Windows and means for opening and closing same

ABSTRACT

OPENING AND CLOSING MEANS FOR A WINDOW SASH HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A WINDOW FRAME, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A LEVER ARM ARTICULATELY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE WINDOW SASH, A LEVER ARM LOCATING MEMBER SECURED TO THE WINDOW FRAME, THE LEVER ARM BEING SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO THE LOCATING MEMBER, WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPENUPON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER ARM RELATIVE TO THE LOCATING MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE LEVER ARM IN A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE RETAINING MEMBER.

D. E. c. WEBSTER 3,552,790

WINDOWS AND MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed on. 10, 1968 I O J 7 u /m 1 u G e 1 re 1 1 F 73 E n M B a Q L I nvenlor By my (4% Jan. 5, 1971 c, EB 3,552,790 wmnows AND MEANS FOR OPENING. AND CLOSING-SAME Filed Oct. 10, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 8 i I nvenlor DESMonI) EDMJAKDCUJGB$TEK Mm m AGEu-r United States Patent 3,552,790 WINDOWS AND MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAME Desmond E. C. Webster, 1 Sweetmount Park, Dublin, Ireland Filed Oct. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 766,466 Claims priority, application Ireland, Oct. 19, 1967, 1,262/ 67 Int. Cl. Ec 17/16 US. Cl. 292-268 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Opening and closing means for a window sash hingedly connected to a window frame, said means including a lever arm articulately connected at one end thereof to the window sash, a lever arm locating member secured to the window frame, the lever arm being slidable relative to the locating member, when the window is open, upon upward movement of the lever arm relative to the locating member, and means for securing the lever arm in a number of alternative positions relative to the retaining member.

The present invention relates to windows and is particularly concerned with means for opening and closing windows.

A known form of handle, for opening and closing sidehung windows where the window sash is pivotally connected to the window frame, comprises a lever arm pivotally connected to the sash and co-operating with means on the window frame for the purpose of retaining the sash in a predetermined open position relative to the frame, or alternatively, in a closed position. In a conventional construction, the lever arm is provided with spaced apart apertures adapted to receive a pin mounted upon the window frame for the purpose of securing the sash in a predetermined open positive relative to said frame, a further pin being mounted'upon the window frame and being adapted to enter a further aperture in the lever arm when it is desired to close the sash.

In said conventional construction of lever arm, the latter is normally connected to the bottom side of the sash which is disposed perpendicular to the hinged edge thereof and the lever arm may be entirely freed from the pin simply by raising the lever arm.

The present invention provides means for opening and closing a window of the kind wherein the window sash is hingedly connected to the window frame, said means comprising a lever arm adapted to be articulately connected at one end thereof to the window sash, the lever arm being slidable relative to a retaining member secured to the window frame, so that the lever arm may be moved relative to said retaining member so as to permit the window to be closed, or to be opened by a predetermined amount, means being provided for securing the lever arm in a number of alternative positions relative to said retaining member.

Advantageously, the retaining member has an upwardly projecting head adapted to be slidable in a track or channel provided in the lever arm, the track or channel preferably including a roof portion and downwardly projecting limbs, spaced apart recesses for receiving the 3,552,790 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 projecting head of the retaining member being provided in the roof portion of the track or channel.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the projecting head is mounted upon the retaining member and has abutment means associated therewith, said abutment means being preferably in the form of a ramp extending from the base of the projecting head upwardly towards the remote end of the retaining member and being adapted to enter the track or channel in the closed position of the window so as to prevent pivotal movement of the lever ram in said closed position.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the projecting head of the retaining member is supported upon a pin mounted upon a retaining member, the projecting head being slida'bly retained in said track or channel by a longitudinal retaining member having an elongated slot, said pin passing through the elongated slot and thereby permitting sliding movement of the lever arm relative to the projecting head. In the second preferred embodiment, there is provided abutment means in the form of a ramp substantially as described with reference to the first embodiment.

The invention will hereinafter be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of opening and closing means according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view looking in the direction of arrow X,

FIG. 3 is a perspective View, the relative positions of the parts being different to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of FIGS. 1 to 3,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of opening and closing means according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is a view looking in direction of arrow Z,

FIG. 7 shows a detail of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an element of FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 is an elevation of an element of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows a detail of FIG. 5,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of FIG. 10, and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the invention in association with a window and frame.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the opening and closing means, according to the first embodiment of the invention, comprises a bracket 1 having screw apertures 2 by means of which the bracket 1 may be secured to a window sash (not shown) hingedly connected to a window frame (not shown).

Projecting from one limb of the bracket 1 is a pin 3 having a substantially spherical bearing head 4 which provides a pivot connection between the Window sash and a lever arm 5, by manipulation of which the hingedly connected window W may be opened or closed.

A pad 10, which is connected to the lever arm 5 by a screw 11, serves to retain the spherical head 4 in pivotal relationship with the lever arm 5.

The lever arm 5 has a track or channel 6 which in-- cludes a roof portion 7 and downwardly projecting limbs 8. The roof portion 7 of the track or channel 6 has spaced apart recesses 9, 9a and 9b for receiving the cylindrical head 12 of the retaining member 13 adapted to be secured to the window frame F by screws passing through the screw aperturese 14.

Located on the retaining member 13 and extending from the base of the cylindrical head 12 upwardly towards the remote end of the retaining member 13 is a ramp which defines an abutment 15, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the window W is closed and the cylindrical head 12 of the retaining member 13 is in the recess 9a adjacent the pivoted end of the lever arm 5. The abutment 15 is located in the channel and serves, by contact with the roof portion 7 of the channel 6, to prevent pivotal movement of the lever arm 5 relative to the cylindrical head 12, in the closed position of the window.

The roof portion 7 is inclined towards the recess 90, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. When it is desired to open the window W it is merely necessary to raise or move the lever arm in the direction of the arrow Y, thereby freeing the cylindrical head 12 from the recess 9a, simultaneously freeing the abutment from the channel 6, and enabling the cylindrical head 12 to slide in and with reference to the channel 6 while the lever arm 5 is permitted to pivot relative to the cylindrical head 12. If it is desired fully to open the window W the lever arm 5 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 3, in which position the cylindrical head 12 of the retaining member 13 is located in the recess 9b (see also FIG. 2).

It is normal to provide a further lever arm (not shown) on the edge of the sash parallel to the hinged edge thereof and perpendicular to the edge to which the lever arm 5 is pivotally connected, and when the cylindrical head 12 is freed from engagement in one of the apertures 9, 9a, or 91;, prior to closure of the sash, movement of the latter towards its closed position enables the ramp to guide the lever arm 5 into its closed position, the lever arm 5 riding upwardly upon the ramp until the abutment 15 enters the channel 6, whereupon the lever arm 5 drops over the abutment 15 and into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that the lever arm 5 may be removed from slidable contact with the cylindrical head 12 merely by raising the lever arm 5 in the direction of arrow Y until the cylindrical head 12 is freed from the channel 6. For normal operation, however, it is not necessary to disturb the slidable association between the lever arm 5 and the retaining member 13.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 11 of the accompanying drawings, the opening and closing means, according to the second embodiment of the invention, comprises a bracket 21 having screw apertures 22 by means of which the bracket 21 may be secured to a window sash W hingedly connected to a window frame F.

- Projecting from one limb of the bracket 21 is a pin 23 having a substantially spherical head 24 about which a lever arm 25 is pivotable. The spherical head 24 is located in a housing 26 in the adjacent end of the lever arm 25 and is rotatably held in the housing 26 by the curved end 27a of a longitudinal retainer 27. The lever arm 25 has a track or channel 31 which is defined by a roof 32 and downwardly projecting limbs 33. The roof 32 of the track or channel 31 has spaced apart apertures 34- for receiving the cylindrical head 35 of a pin 36 projecting upwardly from, and integral with, a retaining member 37 through apertures 38 in which screws may be passed to secure the retaining member 37 to a window frame F. The pin 36 extends through an elongated slot 28 in the longitudinal retainer 27 which serves to retain the cylindrical head 35 in the track or channel 31. The retaining member has a ramp, the upper end of which defines an abutment 46 which projects through the elongated slot 28 when the sash is closed, thereby securing the sash in its closed position. It is normal to provide a further lever on the edge of the sash parallel to the hinged edge thereof and perpendicular to the edge to which the lever arm 25 is pivotally connected, and when the cylindrical head is freed from engagement in one of the apertures 4 34- prior to closure of the sash, movement ofthe latter towards its closed position enables the ramp to guide the lever arm 25 into the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

One end of the longitudinal retainer 27 is held in position in a recess (not shown) provided in the adjacent end of the lever arm 25, while located on and adjacent the other end of the longitudinal retainer 27 is a screw threaded bushing 41 for receiving a screw threaded bolt 42 passing through but located in the roof 32 of the lever arm 25. On rotation of the screw threaded bolt 42 in one direction, the retainer 27 is drawn towards the roof 32 of the lever arm 25 to secure the spherical head 24 in the housing 26, while on rotation of the screw threaded bolt 42 in the reverse direction, the longitudinal retainer 27 is moved away from the lever arm 25 to enable the latter to be freed from engagement with the spherical head 24. The housing 26 has a bearing liner 44 for re ceiving the spherical head 24.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the degree of opening of a window, fitted with means as shown in FIGS. 5 to 11 of the drawings, is limited to substantially the length of the lever arm 25 since one end of the lever arm 25 is articulately connected to the window sash W while the lever arm 25 is also slidably connected to the retaining member 36 on the window frame F.

When it is desired to move the window sash from one open position to another position, or from a closed position to an open position or vice versa, it is merely necessary to raise the lever arm 25 so as to free the cylindrical head 35 of the retaining member 36 and thereby permit the lever arm 25 to be slidably moved relative to the retaining member 36 until an alternative recess 34 in the roof 32 of the track or channel 31 is reached, when the lever arm 25 may be lowered until the cylindrical head 35 is engaged in the alternative recess 34.

In the case of a centre hung pivot type window as used in high buildings and as previously described, if it should be desired to clean the outer side of the window, it is merely necessary to release the detachable securing means at the concave end 27a of the longitudinal retainer 27, by rotating the screw threaded bolt 42 in the direction indicated, so that the longitudinal retainer 27 may be depressed to enable the spherical head 24 of the pivot pin 23 to be freed from the housing 26 in the pivoted endof the lever arm 25. The window may then be turned through an angle of so that the outer side thereof may be cleaned from the inside of the building.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 11 has particular application in a construction of window often used in high 'buildings, wherein the window sash is pivoted by a pair of hinges about a horizontal axis located centrally in a window frame. The angle of opening of such a window is normally restricted by the provision of friction hinges to support the sash, so that the possibility of certain articles falling from, and children climbing through the window is restricted, if not eliminated. In the absence of friction hinges, the window could be turned through an angle of 180. A window of the kind mentioned is normally provided with a conventional lever type handle on the bottom of the window sash so that the window may be opened and closed manually.

I claim:

1. Means for opening and closing a window which includes a window sash hingedly connected to a window frame, said means comprising a lever articulately connected at one end thereof to said window sash, a retaining member secured to said window frame, said lever being slidable relative to said retaining member for movement of said window sash to a closed position or to one of a number of predetermined open positions, means being provided for securing said lever in a number of alternative positions relative to said retaining member, said lever being provided with a longitudinal track, said retaining member comprising a base which is elongated and substantially rectangular in plan view, a projecting head provided on one end portion of said base and slidable in said track, and a ramp-like abutment projecting upwardly from the other end portion of said base into said track.

2. Means according to claim 1 wherein said retaining member also includes a pin supporting said head on said base, said lever including an elongated retaining element extending along said track and provided with a longitudinal slot, said head being slidably retained in said track by said retaining element and said pin passing through said slot whereby to permit sliding movement of said lever relative to said head.

3. Means according to claim 2 together with means detachably securing said retaining element to said levers References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,555 12/1900 Winter 292-265 2,650,847 9/ 1953 Olson 292265 2,760,805 8/1956 Stevens 2922-68X FOREIGN PATENTS 604,977 7/ 1948 Great Britain 292268 616,670 1/ 1949 Great Britain 292268 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner 

